Why Scholars Cite Sources
Why Cite Sources?
Documenting the sources of information used in your research is an essential step, as necessary as selecting, evaluating, and reading them. Reports of research and its findings are not considered valid and legitimate unless the researcher documents the resources and methods used to conduct that research. For a scientist, this entails a detailed account of materials and methods used in the lab or the field. For the social scientist, it may mean including copies of surveys, questionnaires, observations, or other methods used to gather information. For any researcher using verbal or graphic materials, regardless of the medium--print, Internet, film, photographic, microfiche, etc., it means indicating exactly what materials were used and what information came from which source. The purpose of this documentation is to allow other persons interested in the subject of the research to verify information or to carry the inquiry further. Accurately and completely documenting the sources of information used in a research report or essay is therefore essential to the scholarly conversation that is the whole purpose of research.
Styles of Documentation
Different fields of inquiry have developed different styles, or rules, of documentation. Fields in the humanities, like literature, religion, or philosophy, tend to prefer MLA style. History and some social sciences, like education, economics, or political science, prefer Turabian or Chicago style. Other social sciences and some sciences prefer APA. Scientific writing has many different formats, depending on the discipline. You should consult with your professor to determine which style you should use for any project.
Zotero
Zotero is a free citation management tool that can automatically import citations into your personal account, organize sources into folders, and generate bibliographies in a variety of citation styles. It also includes a word processor plugin for formatting footnotes and parenthetical citations.
UR Libraries subscribe to Zotero unlimited storage for personal and group cloud storage. Users can create as many research groups as they like, with as many members as they need. Sign-up with your @richmond.edu email to use this storage.
- Zoterobib is a quick cite tool for citing individual items or creating bibliographies on the fly.
- Zotero web version offers the majority of the features of the download version and syncs with your Zotero library if you have downloaded Zotero. From the Zotero image below, click on Web Library
- Zotero downloaded to your personal computer offers the full citation management features and syncs with your Zotero web version.From the Zotero image below, click on download.
Zotero - Quick Start
Getting Started with Zotero
- Zotero Quick Guide (UR)Get started with Zotero with this 2-page quick guide written by UR librarians.
- Zotero ConnectorsThe Zotero Connector browser extensions allow you to add items to your Zotero library with the click of a button in Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.
- Zotero Guide | Getting StartedResearch Guide created by Jason Puckett and licensed by Georgia State University Library under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial License.
Writing an Academic Essay
- Overview of the Academic EssayThis describes a non-research based essay.
UR Online Resources
- University of Richmond Honor Council & the UR Honor Code
The UR Honor Council maintains the University's Honor Code used in order to maintain high standards of academic integrity. This website provides information on the Honor Code Pledge students are required to acknowledge for assignments.
- The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Resources for all things writing and citing in APA and MLA.
- Writing Center - The University of Richmond
The Writing Center provides experienced tutors who offer friendly critiques for written work in any major.
- Writer's Web - The University of Richmond - Writing Center
Writer's Web is a free, public-access handbook that covers help and information for all stages of the writing process.
- Citation Guides for Government Documents
Links to various websites for help with citing government documents and publications.
More on Citing Sources
- Citing Images - GeneralThis site has a great set of example of how to cite images in your papers.
Online Learning Tutorials from Lynda.com
lynda.com provides unlimited access to an online library of high-quality instructional videos on the latest software tools and skills.
With more than 1,300 courses taught by industry experts—and more added every week—lynda.com is designed for all levels of learners and is available whenever you’re ready to learn. You can even view the resources on your iOS or Android mobile device (via web site or mobile apps).
Current faculty, students, and staff have access to a University subscription of lynda.com resources. Please click the Access lynda.com link. You will then get a UR login page for lynda.com — use your UR NetID and 16-character password before being redirected to lynda.com's web site. If it is your first time logging in through UR, you will be asked whether you want to migrate the training activity records from another lynda.com account that you may have had in the past to your new UR lynda.com account. After choosing a response, you should then have direct access to lynda.com training materials.
